Take Away English-The Oscars 奥斯卡金像奖

Wallace and Gromit celebrate their Oscar in their Paul Smith bow ties. © Aardman 2006

The Oscars are the biggest movie event of every year, and are always a star-studded, glamorous¹ occasion. Their full title is ‘Academy Awards’, and the first awards took place in 1929, when films had only just begun being ‘talkies’, and not silent movies. The famous golden ‘Oscar’ statuettes represent the greatest honour an actor or film-maker can achieve.

This year’s event, the 78th Academy Awards, was as fashionable as ever, with designer frocks and tuxedos² parading up the red carpet. The awards this year were dominated by intimate, thought-provoking films, and there was a good spread of awards – no one film swept the board.

‘Crash’ was the surprise winner of the coveted³ best film award, as well as two other awards. The film is about racial tension in Los Angeles, and features an ensemble⁴ cast – lots of different characters with no one lead role.

Despite being tipped as ‘the hottest favourite ever to win best picture’, ‘Brokeback Mountain’ only won three of its eight nominations⁵, including a best director award for Ang Lee.

George Clooney won the best supporting actor award for ‘Syriana’, but was also nominated as a director for ‘Good Night and Good Luck’. He joked about why he likes directing, “You can get old and grey and they still let you do the job!”

British films had limited success, but a seven-months pregnant Rachel Weisz collected the best supporting actress award, and British-made ‘Six Shooter’ won in the best short film category.

British animators Nick Park and Steve Box were surprised and jubilant that their film ‘Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit’ won the animated⁶ film award.

They collected their award wearing matching oversized stripy bow-ties. Steve Box commented, “We really didn't think we would win because a lot of the films were worthy⁷ and meaningful and deep and our film is just ridiculous.”

GLOSSARY 词汇表
star-studded 群星汇集 statuettes 金像奖 tuxedos 燕尾服 intimate 探索内心世界的 swept the board 包揽众奖 racial tension 种族关系紧张的 hottest favourite 最热门的获奖者 category 项目；类别 jubilant 兴高采烈的 worthy 值得称颂的	talkies 有声电影 designer frocks 名牌晚礼服 red carpet 红地毯 thought-provoking 发人深思的 coveted 贪求的 tipped as 预测 nominations 提名 animators 动画片 bow-ties 领结 deep 深刻的

 

1 glamorous   

adj.富有魅力的；美丽动人的；令人向往的

参考例句：

• The south coast is less glamorous but full of clean and attractive hotels.南海岸魅力稍逊，但却有很多干净漂亮的宾馆。
• It is hard work and not a glamorous job as portrayed by the media.这是份苦差，并非像媒体描绘的那般令人向往。

2 tuxedos   

n.餐服，无尾晚礼服( tuxedo的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our services include design and tailoring for wedding gowns, tuxedos and party dressesfrom and American brands. 们的服务范围包括高级婚纱设计定制，高级礼服、派对装设计定制，及欧美一线品牌成衣的驳样定制。 来自互联网
• Most tuxedos are black, but some people like to wear white ones called 'morning suits'. 大多数男士无尾晚礼服是黑色的，不过有些人喜欢穿那种被称为“晨服”的白色装。 来自互联网

3 coveted   

adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图

参考例句：

• He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. 他一直渴望有机会与著名音乐家一起工作。
• Ther other boys coveted his new bat. 其他的男孩都想得到他的新球棒。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 ensemble   

n.合奏(唱)组；全套服装；整体，总效果

参考例句：

• We should consider the buildings as an ensemble.我们应把那些建筑物视作一个整体。
• It is ensemble music for up to about ten players,with one player to a part.它是最多十人演奏的合奏音乐，每人担任一部分。

5 nominations   

n.提名，任命( nomination的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nominations are invited for the post of party chairman. 为党主席职位征集候选人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Much coverage surrounded his abortive bids for the 1960,1964, and 1968 Republican Presidential nominations. 许多消息报道都围绕着1960年、1964年和1968年他为争取提名为共和党总统候选人所做努力的失败。 来自辞典例句

6 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

7 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。